Optimum Wound (Roadrunner) Albums Re-Released

Metal Mind Productions presents re-release of classic material from Roadrunner Records’ archives – two albums from Optimum Wound Profile, one of the most fascinating industrial/hardcore projects that emerged in the 90’s. Formed in 1991 in Ipswich, UK, the sextet proposed a powerful combination of metal, crust punk, hardcore and sampling technologies, sealed tightly in a cage of pure condensed madness. Coming out during the industrial spree, when groups such as Nine Inch Nails and Ministry cleared the way for countless new acts to follow,Â Optimum Wound Profile proved that there is something more to say in aggressive, electronic music. Mixing elements of metal, crust punk, hardcore and sampling with various programming technologies, the band achieved a brutally intensive style, balancing on the edge of musical insanity. The debut “Lowest Common Dominator” (1992) introduced some raw, yet intriguing material, showcasing the band’s huge potential in creating a thrilling combination of disturbing samples, angry vocals and heavily crafted guitar work. But most of all, the album was a solid kick in the head to an unsuspecting listener. The tendency to terrorize through sound was kept on the band’s second release for Roadrunner Records, “Silver Or Lead” (1993), produced by Colin Richardson (who work ed with, among others, Napalm Death, Fear Factory, Machine Head, Slipknot). More sophisticated and elaborated than the debut, the album stunned with a handful of intriguing ideas, supported by solid musical skills.

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“Lowest Common Dominator” & “Silver or Lead” – in a new digipack edition on golden discs, digitally remastered using 24-Bit process, limited to numerated 2000 copies. Both titles will be released on 6th August in Europe & on 3rd September in USA (via MVD).

BioOptimum Wound Profile is one of the most fascinating industrial/hardcore projects that emerged in the 90’s. Formed in 1991 in Ipswich, UK, the sextet proposed a powerful combination of metal, crust punk, hardcore and sampling technologies, sealed tightly in a cage of pure condensed madness. Coming out during the industrial spree, when groups such as Nine Inch Nails and Ministry cleared the way for countless new acts to follow,Â Optimum Wound Profile proved that there is something more to say in aggressive, electronic music. Terrorizing the listener with a fiendish mixture of disturbing samples, angry vocals and heavy guitar work, the band’s debut album, “Lowest Common Dominator”, released for Roadrunner Records in 1992, stands out as a trulyÂ impressive piece of industrial craftsmanship. The inhuman cacophony blended with extreme vocalizations at first sounds pretty incomprehensible, but after a while the pieces fit together to form an intriguing unity, comparable to Ministry’s finest works, but in the same time keeping its unique style. Although a bit rough and chaotic, the debut introduced a band with an extraordinary potential, shown by all of the musicians. Especially Niall Corr presented some top notch skills on the drums, replacing Optimum’s first drummer, Dom Cattermole, soon after the band entered the studio. “Lowest Common Dominator” did not become a massive success, however it did get some very appealing reviews and received a fair recognition in the industrial scene. To this day the album amazes with its almost insane musical structure, followed by a set of odd-ball lyrics, which perfectly fit into the picture. Optimum Wound Profile managed to release two more LPs – “Silver Or Lead” for Roadrunner Records (1993) and “Asphyxia” for We Bite Records (1995). There are rumors about a fourth release entitled “Cult of Saints”, which eventually never saw daylight. The band officially split up in 1996, leaving a modest, but very intense discography and a trail of madness which still can be followed by those who think they have enough guts to take their chance with Optimum Wound Profile’s musical massacre.

Author: James McQuiston

Ph.D. in Political Science, Kent State University.
I have been the editor at NeuFutur / neufutur.com since I was 15. Looking for new staff members all the time; email me if you are interested. Thanks!
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